Hopefully you’ve had some time to put some thought into developing and quantifying your personal brand. If you’re struggling with this, be assured, it is not easy work. So, it may take some time.
As you think about a framework to build upon, here is some advice from Tom Peters in his classic article The Brand Called You:
“No matter what you're doing today, there are four things you've got to measure yourself against. First, you've got to be a great teammate and a supportive colleague. Second, you've got to be an exceptional expert at something that has real value. Third, you've got to be a broad-gauged visionary -- a leader, a teacher, a farsighted ‘imagineer.’ Fourth, you've got to be a businessperson -- you've got to be obsessed with pragmatic outcomes.”
Your brand probably should contain most, if not all, of these components. If you’re having trouble with this step in the process, make sure you ask questions, seek out the opinions of those you trust, and bounce your finished product off a few people who know you well.
Now, on to creating your brand... Your brand will not accomplish anything if it just lives in your head or even passively interacts with those in your close network. A personal brand only takes on life when it is actively promoted and consistently impacts new individuals.
To create your brand, break your actions into online and offline activities. I’ll cover each category in the remainder of the discussion.
Create Your Personal Brand Online. If someone googled your name, your office, or [your city] real estate, what would they find? If a person IS able to find you with a search inquiry, what does the information found say about you? Does it match your brand? These are important questions because a large majority of people will interact with (or miss completely) your brand online.
Here are the basics of what you need to create your personal brand online:
- Facebook Profile. You probably already have a Facebook account. Does it match the personal brand you developed? If not, you may want to create a professional version and then limit those who have access to your personal version to those in your personal network.
- LinkedIn Profile. Again, make sure that your LinkedIn profile matches what you’ve quantified as your personal brand. Push the limits of LinkedIn by joining groups where you can contribute your expertise and build a reputation for being knowledgeable.
- Twitter Profile. Compared to the previous two venues, Twitter is much more tricky. But, there are some people who have learned to use this tool effectively. If you need some ideas, study some of the popular restaurants or night clubs in your area.
- Blog. It is tough to write a blog as a real estate company and not be perceived as biased. So, if you decide to write a blog, you may want to focus it on a topic that is not perceived as manipulative. One of the most popular blogs in my area is SeattleBubble.com - Even though the author is currently an employee of Redfin, he does a good job of maintaining neutrality.
Create You Personal Brand Offline. Because real estate is such a local/community business, there are still many opportunities to deploy traditional methodologies for building your personal brand. Here are some ideas:
- Volunteer. There are many opportunities in a local community to volunteer. Pick opportunities that not only support your personal brand, but seem to get a lot of press. Ride the popularity of things that are naturally interesting to others.
- Take on a Cause. Find something in your community that needs attention and make it your job to get it fixed. For example, if there were a dangerous intersection in your community, could you bring it to the public’s attention and spearhead the public-interest project to get it fixed? Seems like a great fit for someone who is concerned about the surrounding neighborhoods.
- Teach a Class. For most people, building a personal brand involves being perceived as an expert in a certain domain. Teaching is a great way to build this perception. Try contacting the local community college or an adult education program.
- Participate in a Panel Discussion. Are there conferences in your area where you can make a contribution? It is quite common for conferences to hold panel discussions with experts from the local community. Use your network to work your way onto one of these panels. The first one will be the hardest, but visibility has a way of multiplying.
There are many more ideas out there, so don’t stop with what I’ve suggested... Build a good base, but then take every opportunity possible to add to your personal brand. Tom Peters says it this way:
“The important thing to remember about your personal visibility campaign is: it all matters. When you're promoting brand You, everything you do -- and everything you choose not to do -- communicates the value and character of the brand.”
Editor's Note: This article was written by Ben Hess. Ben is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Tidemark, Inc. and a regular contributor to WorkPuzzle. Comments or questions are welcome. If you're an email subscriber, reply to this WorkPuzzle email. If you read the blog directly from the web, you can click the "comments" link below.
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